RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Less than a month after the B-2’s departure, another Bomber Task Force deployment of B-52 Stratofortress aircraft, Airmen and support equipment from the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, arrived at RAF Fairford, England, on Oct. 10, 2019, to conduct theater integration and flying training.
“Bomber Task Force rotations provide us with a consistent and near-continuous long-range weapon capability, and represent our ability to project air power around the globe,” said Gen. Jeff Harrigian, commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa. “They also provide invaluable opportunities to train and integrate with our allies and partners in the Black Sea, Baltic and the Arctic regions. By varying types and overall numbers of aircraft on each BTF rotation we are able to train to a variety of scenarios and partners while we demonstrate our ironclad commitment to our NATO allies and our promise to ensure regional security.”
The deployment of strategic bombers to the U.K. helps exercise RAF Fairford as United States Air Forces in Europe’s forward operating location for bombers. The deployment also includes joint and allied training in the U.S. European Command theater to improve bomber interoperability. Training with joint partners, allied nations and other U.S. Air Force units contributes to a lethal and ready force and enables us to build enduring and strategic relationships necessary to confront a broad range of global challenges.
Coverage of this deployment will be available at: https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/bombertaskforceeurope.
For more information, please contact U.S. Air Forces in Europe & Air Forces Africa (HQ USAFE-AFAFRICA) Public Affairs by email at usafepao.pao@us.af.mil.